Enforced office mandates drive workers to seek flexible roles

A growing number of workers are leaving companies imposing rigid office attendance requirements, according to new research. Recruiters report a significant surge in job applications from employees at firms mandating full-time office attendance, with two-thirds of recruiters surveyed noticing this trend.

The findings, from a study commissioned by flexible workspace provider IWG, reveal that stricter office policies are increasingly unpopular in the job market. Three-quarters of recruiters said candidates now routinely turn down roles lacking hybrid working options, while 72% believe businesses without flexible work policies are becoming less competitive in attracting top talent.

The shift follows a wave of stricter remote working mandates from major employers, including Amazon, Asda, PwC, and Santander. Notably, Amazon has instructed employees to return to the office full-time from January, while Starling Bank’s hybrid staff have been ordered to spend a minimum of 10 days per month in the office – sparking resignations from frustrated employees.

Employees in roles requiring five-day office attendance have voiced their discontent. Separate research from IWG found that 36% of these workers believe their employers risk losing top talent, while nearly half (46%) are actively seeking jobs offering flexibility to avoid long commutes.

Mark Dixon, chief executive of IWG, emphasised the business benefits of hybrid working: “The hybrid model boosts workforce productivity and job satisfaction while also cutting costs significantly. Flexible working is proven to enhance employee retention and competitiveness in the job market.”

The backlash against enforced office mandates comes as economists, including Stanford University’s Nicholas Bloom, predict that such policies may ultimately backfire. Bloom has warned that a talent exodus could force companies to abandon strict return-to-office rules in the coming year.